Evening NEWS DIGEST
15 Nov. 2016: 14 Safar 1438: Vol: 8, No:36
'Surgical strike or carpet
bombing', people suffering, says Supreme Court,but refuses to stay
demonetisation
New Delhi: As people
desperate for cash continue to spend hours at banks and ATMs 6 days after a
sudden ban on Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, the Supreme Court told the centre
today: "You call it surgical strike or carpet bombing, there is some
collateral damage." SC, acting on a batch of petitions, refused to suspend
the decision but asked the govt to submit a report on steps taken to ease the
crunch for citizens. Agreeing with the govt 's argument that that there will be
"some collateral damage in a surgical strike against black money",
the court said the "common man should not suffer".The Chief Justice
of India, TS Thakur, suggested that the govt should raise the withdrawal limit.
"General feeling is it is causing inconvenience to common man," he
said.NDTV
No stay on demonetisation,
SC says govt cannot have surgical strike against people
SC refuses to stay
demonetisation, asks govt to help ease
cash crunch
Currency notes ban: SC
seeks report from Centre
Indelible ink on right hand
finger for old currency exchange from tomorrow
New Delhi: A small mark of
indelible ink, used mostly during elections to prevent multiple voting, will be
put on the right hand finger of those exchanging banned 500 and 1,000 rupee
notes for new ones from Wednesday to prevent crowding at banks by repeat
exchangers. As per the assessment of the finance ministry, bank counters are
getting overcrowded due to same people turning up again and again to exchange
old notes."Ideally, the ink mark should have been put on the left hand as
is done when a person casts his vote. But with by-elections due in some states,
an ink mark for exchange or withdrawal of currency note on the left hand will
lead to unnecessary difficulties. So it has been decided that the ink mark
would be put on right hand," an official said.The ink manufactured at the
Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd - the firm that has supplied indelible ink to the
Election Commission since 1962 to mark voters, will be made available to banks
and post offices from tonight.Banks in major cities will start marking note
exchangers with the ink, the official said.PTI
Demonetisation death toll
rises to 25 in just 6-day
PM Narendra Modi yesterday
made it clear to his party and allies that the govt felt the people were
supporting its demonetisation move. As the govt refused to consider a rollback,
a report say currency normalisation may take four months, and not 50 days as
the govt claims.That may take a huge
toll on people given there have already been 25 deaths due to demonetisation in
just 6 days. These are just the reported deaths, the real number could be more. In the Bulandshahr (UP) branch of Kailash hospital, owned by union
culture and tourism minister Mahesh Sharma, a child died because the parents
had only old currency notes. The hospital wanted them to deposit an advance of
Rs 10,000 for admission. The hospital has denied the charge.A 24 year old woman
in north-east Delhi hanged herself to the ceiling fan with her dupatta as she
was upset about not being able to exchange currency for three days.In Surat,
Gujarat, a 50 year old mother of two committed suicide because she wasn't able
to buy ration to feed her family. The shops refused to accept old currency
notes.A 20 year old woman in Shamli (west UP) committed suicide. Her brother,
returning home after failing to exchange currency at the bank, found her
hanging from the ceiling fan.In Chikballapur district of Karnataka, a 40 year
old woman committed suicide because Rs 15,000 that she had gone to the bank to
exchange got lost or stolen. She had hidden the money from her alcoholic
husband.In Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, a 45 year old farmer was upset at not being
able to exchange Rs 3,000 at the bank for three consecutive days. He needed to
send money to his stranded children in Tamil Nadu. He came home and committed
suicide. huffingtonpost
Demonetisation: Chaos
Claims 18 Lives in 5 Days
Demonetisation: Pune think
tank advised Modi, suggested scrapping income tax too
New Delhi: Pune-based
economic think tank ArthaKranti, which claims to have suggested to PM Narendra
Modi to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, wants the govt to
abolish income tax and 56 other taxes and replace it by a banking transaction
tax, or BTT, of 2% on earnings. “Imagine, taxes reduced. Petrol at Rs 28 per
litre. That is ArthaKranti’s next proposal,” the outfit tweeted on Monday.
ArthaKranti, which literally means financial or economic revolution, is a group
of technocrats and chartered accountants. It first proposed its 5-point
proposal for tax reforms in 1999. It had even planned a meeting in Pune on
Nov.11-13 to demand that PM implement its 5-point agenda. According to the
organisation, it has had regular interactions with officials in the PMO all
through 2015, and that it had given its blueprint for an economic revolution in
the country to Modi in 2014, before he was elected the PM . business standard
Demonetisation ended
terror-funding, stone-pelting on security forces in Kashmir: Parrikar
Mumbai: Since the
demonetisation of high currency notes, terror funding has come down to zero and
there has not been stone-pelting on security forces, Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar said in Mumbai on Monday.PTI
Demonetisation Chokes Money
Flow For Separatists, Kashmir Witnesses A Drop In Stone Pelting
Black money helped Indian
economy during global recession: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow: Akhilesh Yadav said
economists were of the opinion that black money helped the Indian economy in times
of global recession. “I am very clear on this…black money should not be
generated. Economic experts say the magnitude of the global economic crisis at
times is not felt in India because of strong (parallel) economy of black
money,” he said. PTI
Kejriwal seeks SC monitored
probe in demonetisation
New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday demanded a Supreme
Court-monitored probe into demonetisation scheme, terming it as a “fraud” aimed
at benefiting a “particular political party”, a veiled reference to
BJP.Kejriwal tabled a resolution in the Delhi Assembly in this regard during
its one-day emergency session. The resolution, which will be discussed in the
AAP-dominated House, also urges President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Centre
to withdraw the measure.PTI
Modi, as Gujarat CM, took
Rs 25 crore from Aditya Birla Group in 2012:Kejriwal
Delhi CM and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday
made a number of explosive allegations against the Central govt in general and PM Narendra Modi in particular, like accusing
Modi of taking Rs 25 crore bribe from the Aditya Birla Group when he was CM of
Gujarat in 2012. Kejriwal's: Modi had on from November 8 midnight declared all
Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes as illegal tender, a move he said was aimed
at, among other things, eradicating the scourge of black money.
Bhushan seeks investigation
into ‘political payouts’
New Delhi: Sets of documents,
allegedly recovered during raids by Income Tax Department and CBI from the
premises of two major industrial houses, detail massive payouts to prominent
politicians, according to a complaint filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan with Central
Board of Direct Taxes. the hindu
DNA Exclusive: Banks shower
loans 'wilful defaulter' Niranjan Hiranandani
New
Delhi:"Defaulter!" This is exactly how India's premier institution,
RBI, had described property tycoon and co-founder of the Hiranandani Group —
Niranjan Hiranandani. But despite RBI declaring Hiranandani as a "wilful
defaulter" as far back as 2014, the group continues to receive loans from
premier banks across the country.Documents exclusive to DNA reveal that the
Hiranandani Group has received Rs 5,500 crore from the State Bank of India and
Axis Bank, which was given to 2 firms belonging to the group. SBI loan was
given in Feb.2015 and March 2016 by Axis Bank. These loans, the documents make
clear, come well after RBI listed Hiranandani as defaulter.DNA
Poor camping outside bank,
PM Modi’s friends sleeping peacefully: Kejriwal
Demonetisation: Modi govt has turned people into beggars, says CM Mamata
Banerjee
Demonetisation: Shiv Sena
taunts PM Modi, says scrapping currency notes won’t put his life in danger
Roll back demonetisation or
face roll back yourselves: Shiv Sena warns Modi Govt
Demonetisation drive enters
day 7, rush continues
Cigarettes, booze, sweets,
eggs and more: Demonetisation hits these sales the most
Exit from benami properties
to be tough after demonetisation drive
Demonetisation: PM Modi
shouldn’t have made his mother stand in a line, says Kejriwal
OTHERS
Delhi high court dismisses
PIL for ban on burqa, other face veils, helmets, hoods in state
New Delhi: The Delhi High
Court has refused to entertain a PIL seeking a ban on burqas and other face
veils in public places due to security threat to the capital, saying it is not
a public interest matter.A bench of chief justice G. Rohini and justice
Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal dismissed the plea saying, “If it is a policy decision,
the govt will take care of it. How can we entertain it (PIL) under Article 226
(power of high courts to issue certain writs)?” the bench said. “We cannot
interfere in this writ petition. The same is dismissed. It is not an issue
which deserves consideration by this court under the Article. It is not a matter
of public interest,” it observed.The plea sought a ban on wearing face veils
including burqas, helmets, hoods, among others at public places like transport,
govt buildings and heritage sites in the
capital on the ground of threat from terror activities.The plea, filed by
Sardar Ravi Ranjan Singh, alleged “the use of face coverings and wearing of
full body cover like the burqa is a serious security issue and citizens are put
to constant risk and fear in the capital which is in violation of Article 21(protection
of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution of India.” It said, “There is
a rapid growth in terrorist activities and that the perpetrators of these
criminal acts show no respect to burqa and ruthlessly use it as an instrument
to carry out ‘fidayeen’ attacks.”PTI
Najeeb missing: Students
continue protests as ‘permission never required in free JNU’
New Delhi: After the JNU
administration on Tuesday denied permission to its student body to hold ‘Chalo
JNU’ protest at the varsity campus, students went ahead with the planned march
as, according to them, such permission is never required.“Permission from the
administration is never required in JNU for any march or any other programme.
There is so much freedom in this university,”All India Students’ Association
(JNU unit) President Rama Naga said. “They are unnecessarily creating a drama
by notifying that it’s illegal to organise this protest march. In reality, this
is what that they say every time something happens against them. They are not
doing anything for Najeebbut are rather hampering those who are protesting.”
JNU Student Union went ahead with the planned protest as a show of solidarity
for student Najeeb Ahmed, who went missing from the campus a month ago after a
scuffle with a ABVP member.“It is a national call against injustice. Students
from different universities including Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University,
Aligarh Muslim University and Allahabad University among many others have
joined us in this march for justice,” said Naga.“After completing our march
from Ganga Dhaba till R block, we will have a public meeting. It’s been 30 days
since Najeeb’s disappearance. Except for ABVP, all parties are together here
protesting against the injustice,” he added.IANS
‘Chalo JNU’ protest on
hold, admin. denies permission
Will give suitable reply to
BJP in upcoming polls: Sunni Muslim scholars
New Delhi: Muslims of the
country will not tolerate an "interference" with their personal law
and give a "suitable" reply to the BJP in the coming Assembly elections
on the triple talaq issue, the leaders of All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam
(AITUI) said."Modi govt is trying
to push the country towards the RSS agenda. Sunni Muslims oppose the Law
Commissions move to seek public opinion on abolishing triple talaq," said
president of AITUI Mufti Ashfaq Hussain Qadri, adding that the minority
community will give a "suitable" reply to the saffron party in the
upcoming Assembly polls in a few states.The body of Sunni Muslim scholars will
take out a Parliament March from Jantar Mantar on November 18 to express its
opposition to the Centre and Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he told press
conference. "Thousands of Muslims will gather at Jantar Mantar on Nov.18
and march towards Parliament in protest against the attempts of the Modi govt to impose UCC. They oppose the proposals of
the govt to bring changes in the Shariat
in the name of womens safety," said Qadri.The issues of missing JNU
student Najeeb Ahmed and rights of Palestinians will also be included in the
agenda, said Shujat Qadri, general secretary of the Muslim Students
Organisation of India. PTI
VCK , DMK, Left parties
come together against uniform civil code: The Hindu
Chennai: In a conference
organised by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi to oppose Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
on Monday, the party brought DMK, Congress, Indian Union Muslim League,
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and other parties that oppose the UCC on the same
platform here in Chennai.VCK chief Thol. Thirumvalavan passed a resolution
opposing BJP’s efforts to enforce the uniform civil code on minority
communities in India. “We all have a responsibility to oppose UCC. There is a
need for political parties to get together and fight for issues beyond
electoral alliances and issues. Those who are trying to bring in UCC are
employing Dr. Ambedkar’s name in its service. It is a lie.VCK will stand with
the minority community,” he said.
TN: Move to enforce Uniform
Civil Code decried
Uniform Civil Code attack
on freedom of minorities: Jamiat
New Delhi: Jamiat Ulama-i-
Hind has released a declaration at the end of its 33rd general session in Ajmer
where it warned the Central govt that "if Uniform Civil Code is imposed on
the country or interference made in the Muslim Personal Law, then the minority
community's status will cease to be that of a free citizen". In the
declaration the Jamiat also condemned triple talaaq at one go and appealed to
every section of the Muslim society to work towards eliminating this
"wrong-practice". Jamiat also announced the launch of a social reform
movement against nudity, alcoholism and pornography and propagating Islamic
teachings in the country that will take off in 2017 and continue through the
year.JUH in another resolution reiterated its long pending demand of enacting anti-communal
violence law and made it clear that the community will not tolerate any
meddling in Muslim Personal Law and will oppose Uniform Civil Code "as it
violates the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution".Presenting
the resolutions in the presence of different faith leaders (including Hindu,
Sikh,Jain and Christian) and Islamic scholars, Jamiat leader Maulana Mahmood
Madani said we would work together to build a new India. TOI
Jamiat opposes interference
in personal law
Jamiat calls for Muslims,
Dalits and Adivasis to unite and fight against injustices
Goa: Muslims protest govt’s
move on Civil Code
Margao: Hundreds of
Muslims, including children and women, on Monday, gathered in front of the
South Goa Collectorate building to protest the move of the central govt to frame the Uniform Civil Code for the
country.Holding placards in their hands, the members of the Muslim community
strongly opposed the ‘interference in the Islamic laws by the central govt .’“Crores
of Muslims cannot be punished with this interference in the lslamic law. If
there are a few cases pertaining to the concepts and rules of Nikah and Talaq
(divorce), there has to be proper actions. But, we strongly condemn the idea of
the central govt of framing Uniform Civil Code,”said Imam of Mahamadya Masjid,
while speaking to media at the Collectorate building. navhindtimes
Dial-a-divorce against
spirit of Islam:MJ Akbar
Qazis who are opposing the
abolition of triple talaq are against the spirit of Islam, minister of state
for external affairs MJ Akbar sayd in an interview. He said,"This business
of dial-a-divorce is against the spirit of Islam itself. According to the
spirit of Quran, if a couple fears separation, you appoint an arbitrator from
his family and from her family in order to save the marriage, and if they
reconcile, Allah will help them get together. There is sustenance for a
divorced wife. If a divorced woman wants to stay in the same home, she is
entitled to (do so) but you cannot force her to stay against her will. That is
the kind of emancipation that the holy Quran allowed at a time when women in
the world had no rights. Gender rights are the beginning of Islam." ET
Holy Quran bats for gender
rights: MJ Akbar
Winter Session begins
tomorrow: 30 protests planned outside Parliament
New Delhi: As govt braces for
stormy scenes inside Parliament with Opposition planning protests on
demonetisation and other issues, several outfits have also planned protests,
including half a dozen Parliament gherao programmes, during the forthcoming
Winter Session. Delhi Police has sent the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
secretariat a list of nearly 30 planned agitations that will take place during
the month-long session starting Wednesday.Protests are planned outside
Parliament on issues like govt ’s stand on triple talaq, missing JNU student’s
case, pending dues for sugarcane farmers, reservation in private sector, among
others.In its assessment report on the law and order situation during the
session, Delhi Police anticipates that the issue of missing JNU student Najeeb could
stage a comeback as the session begins.Further, an organisation of Muslim
Ulemas, the All India Tanjeem Ulema-e-Islam, plans to organise a protest march
on the issue of triple talaq on Nov.18. indian express
Israel, India to intensify
cooperation to combat extremism, radicalisation: PM Modi
New Delhi: Noting that
“failure to act and silence of speech only encourages the terrorists”, PM
Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Israel and India have agreed to intensify their
cooperation to combat the forces of extremism and radicalisation that threaten
all peace-loving nations. Addressing a joint press conference with Israel
President Reuven Rivlin after bilateral talks, PM Modi said, “We recognise that terrorism is a
global challenge, knows no boundaries and has extensive links with other forms
of organised crime.”“Regrettably, one of the countries of its origin and spread
is in India's neighbourhood,” said the PM in an indirect reference to Pakistan. Stating
that President Rivlin and he deeply value their strong and growing partnership
to secure their societies, Modi observed,“Our people are constantly threatened
by forces of terrorism and extremism. We agreed that the international
community must act with resolve and determination against terror networks and
States that harbour them. Failure to act and silence of speech only encourages
the terrorists. We agreed to intensify our cooperation to combat the forces of
extremism and radicalisation that threaten all peace-loving nations.” Hailing
India’s defence partnership with Israel, PM said, “We noted the strength of our
growing defence partnership and agreed on the need to make it more broad-based
in production and manufacturing.” Modi also expressed India’s gratefulness to
Israel for its clear support to India’s permanent candidature in a reformed the
UNSC. new indian express
PM Modi very confident of
good relation with US Prez elect Trump: Report
PM Narendra Modi is
confident that Donald Trump, US President elect, will be favourably inclined
towards India. According to TOI report, Modi is believed to have said this in
an informal discussion on Trump’s win during the dinner hosted by Lok Sabha
speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Modi has reportedly said that he enjoys a good
relation with Trump and that Republicans have on a whole been been more
favourable towards India, than Democrats. Modi even said that Democrats have
been more inward looking, though recent govts have been more friendly. Modi
does not expect much change in US approach in terms of bilateral ties with
India. Modi was one of the first leaders to congratulate US President elect
Donald after the latter won the election in a shocking result.financialexpress
PM Modi, Trump Will Be
'Unparalleled Friends': Indian-American Industrialist
Azhar issue: India not to refer
Uri in proposal to UN
New Delhi: India has
decided to drop any reference to the Uri attack from its proposal to be placed
before a United Nations sanctions committee to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)
chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist, a senior govt official told The Hindu. China had put a
technical hold on this proposal in April last, which was extended on Oct.1. The
probe was then handed over to the NIA, which is yet to conclude its probe.
Intelligence officials, however, have said the modus operandi of the Uri attack
had tell tale signs that it was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba.Azhar, a
resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan, has been accused by Indian agencies of
orchestrating several terror attacks here, including the attack at the
Pathankot airbase on Jan.2.“We decided to drop any reference to Uri from the
proposal as the NIA investigation have so far not led to any conclusive
evidence that the JeM was involved. We will stick to the earlier cases
registered against him. Initially there was a plan but it will not be there in
the final document anymore,” said a senior official. thehindu
NIA court rejects bail to
Major Upadhyay in Malegaon 2008 bomb blast case
Mumbai: A special NIA court
here on Saturday rejected the bail application of 2008 Malegaon blast accused,
Major Ramesh Upadhyay.“Consdiering all (these) facts as well as peculiar
circumstances of this case, nature and gravity of the offence, coupled with
restrictuion imposed by subsection(5) of Section 43D of UAPA, I think that the
applicant is not entitled to be released on bail,” Special NIA Judge SD Tekale
observed in the order.On Sept.29, 2008 blast had taken place at Bhiku square
opposite Shakil Goods Transport Company in a textile town Malegaon. The blast
was caused by LML Freedom motorcycle with explosives concealed inside. 4 people
dead and 79 injured due to blast.Adv. Wahab Khan appointed by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Maharashtra
to represent intervene Nisar Ahmed successfully argued to convince court in rejecting
the bail application. Special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal objected to the
bail plea. The prosecution contended that though the meetings did not involve
explicit discussions on bombing Malegaon, the atrocities committed by Muslims
were discussed.TCN
Bilkis Bano case: Bombay
High Court rejects Bano's intervention application
Mumbai:Bombay High Court has
rejected the intervention application of Bilkis Bano, who was gangraped and her
family was murdered in the aftermath of Gujarat riots. The court is currently
hearing a bunch of appeals by 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life
imprisonment by a trial court in 2008. It is also simultaneously hearing CBI's
petition for enhancement of the sentence of the convicts in the case. While the
court has not stated reasons for rejecting the application, Bano's lawyer Vijay
Hiremath said that he will speak to Bano and decide on the next course of action.
He said it is unlikely that Bano will appeal against the court's decision. Bano
had to show the court the provisions under which she should be heard. "The
prosecution has done a good job so we will let it be," Bano's lawyer
said.During the course of the hearing, Bano's lawyer had filed an intervention
application seeking to be heard before the court passes a final judgement in
the case. india today
Bulandshahr gang rape case:
SC looks at foreign laws to examine Azam Khan's 'remark'
New Delhi:To determine
criminality in UP minister Azam Khan's alleged statement seeking a probe into
"political conspiracy" in the Bulandshahr gang rape case, the apex
court has decided to look into laws and principles in vogue in other
countries.The court had A framed four ques tions for adjudication, including
what was to be done in the case if the court found that such statements from a
public personality hampered investigation and caused harassment to sexually
assaulted women.TOI
World
Egyptian court cancels
death sentence of Morsi, Badie, also repeals life sentences of 21 others
Cairo: An Egyptian appeals court today cancelled the
death sentence handed out to ousted President Mohamed Morsi and Muslim
Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie and ordered a retrial in connection
with a mass jail break during the country's 2011 uprising. Court of Cassation
also cancelled life sentences for 21 others in the same case.5 co-defendants,
including Badie, who also received death sentences in June 2015, will be
retried too. Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders were sentenced to death in June
2015 for escaping from Wadi al-Natroun prison, damaging and setting fire to
prison buildings, murder charges, looting weapons and allowing prisoners to
break out of jails during the Jan.2011 revolution. Morsi was sentenced to life
in prison in 2 other trials. He was convicted of spying for Iran, Lebanese
militant group Hezbollah and the Hamas. In another case, Egypt's first freely
elected civilian president was found guilty of stealing documents relating to
national security and handing them to Qatar. PTI
Egypt overturns death
penalty against ousted president
Egypt's Mohamed Morsi has
death sentence overturned
Ex-UN chief "deeply
concerned" as Myanmar violence toll jumps to 86, 234 arrested in Muslim
majority province: Reuters
Yangon:Up to 69 members of
what Myanmar's govt has described as Rohingya Muslim militant group and 17
members of the security forces have been killed in an escalation of fighting in
ethnically divided Rakhine State, the army said on Tuesday.The death toll,
announced in the state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar daily, was sharply
higher than that reported by state media at the weekend, and came as former
United Nations chief Kofi Annan, who chairs a commission on resolving Rakhine's
problems, voiced concern at the upsurge in violence.It has exposed the tension
between Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi's 7-month-old civilian
administration and the army, which ruled for decades and retains key powers,
including control of ministries responsible for security."I wish to
express my deep concern over the recent violence in northern Rakhine State,
which is plunging the state into renewed instability and creating new
displacement," said Ex-UN Secretary General Annan in a statement."All
communities must renounce violence and I urge the security services to act in
full compliance with the rule of law," he said. Members of the commission,
set up by Suu Kyi in August, are in Rakhine for consultations with community
members this week.Soldiers have locked down the district, where the vast
majority of residents are Rohingya Muslims, shutting out aid workers and
independent observers, and conducted sweeps of villages.A series of skirmishes
and attacks during the 6 days to Monday had led "to the death of 69
violent attackers and the arrest of 234", the military's True News
Information Team said. 10 policemen and 7 soldiers were also killed in the
clashes, it added.The announcement takes to 102 the tally of deaths of
suspected Rohingya Muslim attackers since Oct. 9, while the security forces'
toll stands at 32, based on reports in state-owned media. Myanmar's 1.1 million
Rohingya Muslims are denied citizenship. Residents and rights advocates have
accused security forces of summary executions, rapes and setting fire to homes
in the recent violence.Rohingya rights advocates have distributed online video
images of what they said were civilian casualties of the attacks, urging the
international community to investigate.
Myanmar army says 86 killed
in fighting:Reuters
More arrests made amid
clashes in Myanmar's west
Hate crimes against Muslims
in US up by 67%: FBI
Atlanta:Reported hate
crimes against Muslims rose in 2015 to their highest number since the aftermath
of the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to FBI statistics released
Monday. Overall, the total number of hate crimes against all groups reported by
law enforcement agencies to the FBI increased from 5,479 in 2014 to 5,850 last
year. That remains far lower than the numbers seen in the early 2000s, but the
FBI release comes amid numerous reports of attacks nationwide based on race and
religion following last week’s presidential election.AP
US may have committed war
crimes in Afghanistan:ICC
The Hague:US forces may
have committed war crimes in Afghanistan from 2003-2004 by torturing prisoners
in what appeared to be a deliberate policy, the chief prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court has said.Unveiling the results of a lengthy
initial probe into atrocities in Afghanistan, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
yesterday said she would decide “imminently” whether to ask to launch a
full-blown investigation -- and take the world’s only permanent war crimes
court into uncharted territory.She stressed that the Taliban militia and the
affiliated Haqqani network, Afghan govt forces and US troops as well as the CIA all
appeared to have carried out war crimes since the Islamic militia was ousted by
a US-led invasion in 2001.AFP
Putin, Trump agree to
normalise ties
Russian President Vladimir
Putin and US president-elect Donald Trump conclude their first telephone
conversation on Monday.Russian President Vladimir Putin and US president-elect
Donald Trump concluded their first telephone conversation with an agreement to
instruct their respective staffs to begin planning for a personal meeting, the
Kremlin said.“It was agreed to maintain contact by phone and arrange a meeting
in person in the future, with preparations to be conducted by representatives
of both sides,” the Russian govt said in
a statement on Monday, Efe news reported.IANS
Germany bans Islamic group
DWR as police launch raids on 190 sites
German police have launched
dawn raids on about 190 mosques, flats and offices linked to an Islamic group
as the govt bans the organisation,
accusing it of radicalising young people.The interior minister, Thomas de
Maizière, said the DWR “True Religion” organisation had contacted young people
as it distributed Qur’ans and other religious material, and had persuaded about
140 of them to join militants in Iraq and Syria.DWR made no reference on its
website to the raids and did not respond to a request for comment.The
chancellor, Angela Merkel, has been under pressure to harden her line on
security after Islamic State claimed responsibility for a string of attacks
across Europe and she faced criticism for her decision to let in about 900,000
migrants last year.“Today’s ban is not directed against the distribution of the
Qur’an or translations of the Qur’an,” De Maizière told reporters.Reuters
Turkey, Israel hold first
meeting for pipeline project
Ankara: Turkey and Israel
held their first working-level dialogue last week in Istanbul to discuss a
proposed natural gas pipeline project between the two countries, according to
Israeli diplomatic sources on Tuesday. Professional teams from Israel and
Turkey began discussions on the technical details for building a natural gas
pipeline from Israel to Turkey last week, Israel's Minister of National
Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, Yuval Steinitz, was quoted as
saying by Israeli daily financial newspaper Globes. Anadolu agency
In east Aleppo 'there is no
way out'
Aleppo: Syrian govt forces
sent a text message to residents of east Aleppo on Sunday, demanding they leave
rebel-controlled area within 24 hours or risk their lives during a major
offensive."Our dear people living in east Aleppo, the militants kill your
children and take your women," read text message, which declared the govt 's
intent to retake rebel-held districts of the city.Approximately 250,000 people
are believed to be living in besieged east Aleppo, and Syrian govt forces have
reversed recent gains rebels made last month in their effort to break the
siege.
Iraqi forces withdraw from
Qadisiyah
Iraqi counterterrorism forces
yesterday withdrew, for the second time, from the Qadisiyah neighbourhood east
of the city of Mosul, a few hours after storming it, an Iraqi officer
reported.Captain Mustafa Abdul-Zahra told the Anadolu that Daesh has launched
nearly 5 suicide attacks against the counterterrorism forces forcing them to
withdraw.The forces entered the area on Friday but had to withdraw the next day
after Daesh fighrters targeted them with explosive rigged cars. Following the
anti-terrorism forces’ withdrawal from Qadisiyah neighbourhood, militant group
is reported to have burnt 5 houses claiming their occupants had cooperated with
Iraqi forces, Anadolu quoted an unnamed source. middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:29 PM)
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